Rice porridge is a very traditional Scandinavian food. It is also incredibly versatile.  It is traditionally served as the last course of the Christmas meal. When I was in elementary school in Finland the school cook would make rice porridge for the last meal before Christmas break. She would put one or two almonds in the porridge, whoever found the almonds in their bowls had to sing a Christmas carol for the cook. There are lots of variations throughout Scandinavia to what it means to find the almond. In some places finding the almond indicates that you'll get married in the next year, or that you'll have good luck.

     Besides being a holiday food rice porridge is also commonly eaten for any of the three daily meals. It can be topped with fresh fruit, fruit preserves, jam, cinnamon or just a little bit of butter and sugar. I really like it with berry pudding. And since the ingredients are just rice, milk, butter, and salt its also a very economical food.